How to secure a Career Fair Internship

Authors: Nina Nguyen and Kerod Gebreyohannes

Introduction

It’s your first year at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the only thing in your mind is to secure an internship at this upcoming career fair you’ve heard buzz about. As the time approaches, you might start feeling overwhelmed by the companies attending or the competition of other Georgia Tech students. But don’t worry! This step by step guide will help you make the most out of the career fair experience by giving you a structured approach to landing your dream internship. Whether you’re a first year student, transfer student, or graduate student this guide is designed to give you all the valuable tips to prepare for a networking fair and explain how to use Georgia Tech’s resources to your advantage!

Table of Contents

1. Understanding Company Background
2. Perfecting the Elevator Pitch
3. Obtaining Recruiter’s Contact Information
4. Email Follow-up
5. Applying for preferred position
6. Behavioral/Technical Interview Preparation
7. Gratitude

Step One: Understanding Company Background

Before attending the career fair, it’s important to research the companies that have piqued your interest. Start by visiting the Georgia Tech Career Fair’s Page to discover the companies hiring for positions relevant to your major. Once you have the list of companies you’re interested in, explore each company’s website to understand its mission, products, services, and potential job openings. This research will help you stand out during conversations with recruiters since it demonstrates genuine interest and knowledge about where they work. Be sure to note specific positions and team you’d like to learn more about and come prepared with questions for the recruiters about their company.

Step Two: Perfecting the elevator pitch

On top of proper business professional attire, your elevator pitch is crucial at the career fair. That brief 30 second introduction that summarizes who you are and why you’r interested in the company is what grabs the recruiter’s attention. A brief template you could try is:

"Hello, my name is [Name], and I am a [Year] [Major] student here at the Georgia Institute of Technology. I'm interested in your [Role of Interest], and I believe my experience in [Class, Project, or Work] have given me the skills necessary to perform well in the position [Company] offers. I would love the chance to contribute my skills to your team and learn more about this opportunity." 

As you prepare your pitch, make sure to practice enough so it sounds natural and conversational. The most important thing to remember is to relax, as if you’re speaking to an old friend! Make sure to bring a well crafted resume to give the recruiters after your pitch.

Step Three: Obtaining recruiter’s contact information

When interacting with recruiters, collecting their contact information after is important as well. This will allow you to follow up with them after the career fair. After your elevator pitch and friendly conversations, politely ask for their business card or LinkedIn profiles to stay in touch. Ask about how they would prefer to be contacted and inquire about the best time to reach out to them. Make sure to personalize each conversation by referencing something specific about the company to make it more memorable. Georgia Tech’s Handshake Platform can help you access recruiter’s contact information after the career fair as well.

Step Four: Email Follow-up

After the career fair, always send a professional follow-up email to the recruiter you have spoken with. In your email, express gratitude for their time and reiterate your interest in their company. Mention something specific from your conversation to jog their memory, and express the excitement you have about the opportunity to apply. For proper email etiquette tips, refer to the GT 2000 Textbook Web Page for examples and advice. A brief template you could try is:

Subject Line: Follow-up from Georgia Tech Career Fair - [Your Name]

Good afternoon [Recruiter’s Name],
Thank you for speaking with me at the Georgia Tech Career Fair! I enjoyed learning more about [Company Name] and appreciated our conversation about [something specific].

[Short pitch about skills and how it relates to the company]

I’m very interested in the [Job Title or Program] role; if you're open to it, I'd love to schedule a quick coffee chat to hear more about your experience at [Company Name] and any advice you might have.

Thanks again, and I hope to stay in touch!

Best Regards,
[Your Name]

To continue building the connection, consider asking for a coffee chat (virtually or in person); this is a great way to learn more about their experience at the company while expressing more enthusiasm in a more casual, conversational setting. Once you have established a stronger relationship, you politely express interest in being referred. The end goal of this follow-up is not only to express interest, but gain a referral that boost your application’s visibility to the company.

Step Five: Applying for preferred position

After the career fair and emails, it’s time to apply for the position that was discussed with the recruiter. This internship should align with the skills and interests you have. Tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific job posting to ensure you make it past initial screening. Your resume should be a reflection of who you are and it should highlight your education, relevant courseworks, skills, experiences, and projects. Keep an eye out on your application on the company’s website!

Step Six: Behavioral/Technical Interview Preparation

If the application catches the recruiter’s attention and you are moved forward in the interview process, the next step is to prepare for the interviews. For Computer Science majors, you will most likely face both behavioral and technical interviews. First, prepare by practicing common behavioral questions:

• Tell me about a time you worked in a collaborative team environment?
• Give an example of when you had to persuade others to accept your plan.
• Describe a time you had to quickly adjust to a significant change over which you had no control over.

Based on your field, remember to review key concepts and basic understandings of common principles used because technical interviews will vary for all majors. Utilize resources like the Georgia Tech Career Center Interview Prep and practice mock interviews with friends or through platforms like Big Interview. Lastly, ensure you research company’s culture and recent news to be ready for company-specific questions. GOOD LUCK!

Step Seven: Gratitude

At the end of the day, regardless of whether or not you have secured the job, always remember to express gratitude to everyone that has helped you in the internship search process! After interviews, career fair, email interactions, a simple thank-you message can make a big difference and show your good character. Not only is this a display of your professionalism, but it also reinforces your interest for the position in space of future considerations. Lastly, remember to thank the connection you made at the career fair for their time and emphasize how excited you are about the chance to contribute to their team. Gratitude can set you apart from other candidates and leave a lasting impression.